JP2012052872A - Specimen treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform specimen treatment at high accuracy even in a plug closed state.SOLUTION: A specimen treatment apparatus includes: a fractionation/dispensation part 35 having a nozzle needle 53 configured so as to pierce into a plug body 26 attached to a test tube 25 capable of storing a specimen; and a chip slope 70 made of a metal material and having a cylindrical part 71 having a cavity with a diameter larger than that of the nozzle needle 53 and pierced into the plug body 26 and a diameter expanding part 72 continued to the cylindrical part 71 and gradually expanding a diameter. Before fractionating the specimen, the chip slop 70 is inserted into the test tube 25 through the plug body 26 and fractionation is performed in a state that the inside and outside of the test tube 27 is connected by the cavity of the chip slope 70.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample processing apparatus that performs processing in a sample container that contains a sample.

  As a sample processing apparatus that performs processing in a sample container that contains a sample, for example, serum separated from blood after blood collection by centrifugation is collected as a sample, and a reagent is injected into this sample to react. An analysis device that performs analysis processing by detection is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). A test tube for storing a specimen such as blood is made of, for example, transparent glass or plastic, has a cylindrical shape with an opening on the upper side, and accommodates the specimen therein. A stopper made of rubber or a synthetic resin material is attached to the upper end opening of the test tube. In a general sample processing apparatus, before performing sample processing such as sorting and dispensing, an opening process for removing the plug body that closes the upper opening of the test tube is performed, and the upper part of the test tube is opened. An instrument such as a nozzle is inserted through the opening to perform sample processing such as sorting and dispensing on the internal sample. As described above, in the sample processing apparatus that performs the sample processing after performing the opening process before the sample processing, there is a problem that the processing time for the opening process is long and the processing efficiency is poor. In addition, the specimen may scatter from the opening above the test tube or the specimen may evaporate.

  In view of such circumstances, there can be considered a means for performing processing by penetrating the plug by a sharp needle-shaped member and inserting the plug into the sample container.

JP 2008-76185 A

  However, the above technique has the following problems. That is, the side of the sample container may be labeled, and it is difficult to detect the state in the sample in the closed state, and there is a problem that processing accuracy is lowered.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sample processing apparatus capable of processing a sample with high accuracy even in a closed state.

  A sample processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is attached to a sample container that is configured to be transparent, at least a part of which can store a sample, and can pass through a stopper made of a material including rubber or a synthetic resin material. A penetration processing unit configured to process the sample container or the sample, a detection unit that detects a state of the sample or the sample container during the processing, and before the detection The label removing unit for removing at least a part of the label attached to the side of the sample container, and the penetrating insertion unit have a nozzle needle with a sharp tip, and the tip of the nozzle needle penetrates the plug And a dispensing / dispensing unit that performs the sorting or dispensing process of the sample in a state of being inserted into the sample container, and a cylindrical shape having a cavity having a diameter larger than that of the nozzle needle and penetrating the plug body Part and the tubular part And a tip slope made of a metal material having a diameter-expanded portion that continuously increases in diameter, and the tip slope penetrates through the stopper and is inserted into the specimen container before the sample sorting process. The sorting process is performed in a state where the inside and outside of the sample container communicate with each other through the cavity of the chip slope.

  According to the sample processing apparatus of the present invention, sample processing can be performed even in a closed state.

Explanatory drawing of the sample processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The top view of the sorting and dispensing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. The side view of the preparative dispensing apparatus concerning the embodiment. The side view of the label peeling part which concerns on the same embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the preparative dispensing apparatus concerning the embodiment. The top view of the chip slope which concerns on the same embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the structure of the sorting and dispensing part which concerns on the embodiment, and a sorting process.

  Hereinafter, a sample processing apparatus 1 as a sample processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. In each drawing, the configuration is appropriately enlarged, reduced, or omitted. Arrows X, Y, and Z in the drawings indicate three directions that are orthogonal to each other. Here, the X axis is set to be along the conveyance path, the Y axis is set to be along the width direction of the conveyance path, and the Z axis is set to be along the vertical direction.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a sample processing apparatus. 2 and 3 are a plan view and a side view of the sorting and dispensing apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the label peeling unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample processing apparatus 1 includes a carry-in device 11, a sorting / dispensing device 12, a carry-out device 13, and an analysis device 14 in order from the upstream side of the transport path 20 a and stores various types of information. Storage unit 15 (storage unit), a data processing unit 16 that performs data processing such as calculation / determination based on detection results and identification information, and a control unit 17 (control unit) that controls the operation of each unit. Configured.

  Each of the devices 11 to 13 is provided with a conveyor-type transport unit 20 that transports the test tube 25 in a standing position along a predetermined transport path 20a. The conveyance path 20a of the conveyance unit 20 of the plurality of apparatuses 11 to 14 is continuously arranged.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the test tube 25 as a sample container for storing a sample is supported by the holder 24 in an upright state and is transported as the transport belt of the transport unit 20 moves. The test tube 25 is, for example, a vacuum blood collection tube, is made of transparent glass or plastic, and has a cylindrical shape having a columnar space for accommodating a specimen therein. A label 27 is adhered to the outer peripheral side surface of the test tube 25. On the label 27, a barcode 27a is displayed as an identification information display section indicating various information such as identification information of the specimen 25a. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), a test tube 25 contains three layers of a blood clot 25b, silicon 25c as a separating agent, and serum 25d as a specimen 25a. In FIG. 5A, the label 27 is omitted for explanation.

  The carry-in device 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a transport unit 20, a rack erection unit 11 a disposed on a side of the transport unit 20, and a test tube 25 held in a rack set in the rack erection unit 11 a. And a transfer mechanism 11b for transferring to the holder 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorting / dispensing device 12 is displayed on a device main body 31, a transport unit 20 provided in the device main body 31, and a label 27 attached to the side surface of the test tube 25. A reading unit 32 that acquires various types of information such as identification information indicated on the barcode 27a and position information of the barcode 27a, and a label peeling unit that peels off part of the label 27 attached to the side of the test tube 25 33 (label removal unit), a detection unit 34 (detection unit) for detecting the state of the sample 25a in the test tube 25, and a sorting / dispensing unit 35 (sorting / dispensing) for sorting and dispensing the sample 25a Note unit).

  The reading unit 32 is provided on the side portion of the transport path 20a, reads the barcode 27a of the label 27 attached to the side surface of the test tube 25 sent by the transport unit 20, and acquires various types of information regarding the sample.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the label peeling unit 33 includes a base portion 41 installed on the side of the transport path 20a, and a pair of arm portions 42 that are movably supported extending from the base portion 41 toward the transport path 20a. And a pair of sharpening blades 43 that are respectively provided at the tips of the pair of arm portions 42 and cut the label 27. A part of the label 27 is peeled off from the test tube 25 by moving downward while the cutting blade 43 is in contact with the label 27, and the label 27 is removed.

  The detection unit 34 includes an imaging unit 45 (image detection means) provided on the side of the transport path 20a on the downstream side of the label peeling unit 33. The imaging unit 45 is composed of, for example, a CCD camera, and images the side surface of the specimen 25a from the side of the test tube 25 held in a standing state on the transport path 20a to acquire image information. The acquired image information is sent to the storage unit 15.

  The sorting / dispensing unit 35 includes an elevating mechanism 51 provided on the side of the transport path 20a, a sorting / dispensing tip 52 supported by the elevating mechanism 51, and a used chip slope 70. A chip slope cleaning unit 60 for collecting and cleaning is provided. The sorting / dispensing tip 52 is disposed so as to be opposed to the upper part of the stopper 26 above the test tube 25, and is provided so as to be lifted and lowered by the lifting mechanism 51. A tip end of the sorting / dispensing tip 52 is provided with a nozzle needle 53 as a penetrating insertion portion extending downward. The nozzle hole 53a of the nozzle needle 53 communicates with a suction / discharge device (not shown) for sorting and dispensing a specimen such as blood. The tip (lower end) portion of the nozzle needle 53 has a sharp shape and can be inserted into the test tube 25 through the plug 26 when descending.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a nozzle body 54 is inserted into the dispensing / dispensing tip 52. The nozzle main body 54 includes a fixing portion 59 provided at an upper portion, a sorting / dispensing pipe 55 configured to be movable in the axial direction in the sorting / dispensing tip 52 and forming a passage 55a therein, Nozzle part 55b provided in the lower part of the dispensing / dispensing pipe 55, and a first silicon ball interposed between the fixed part 59 and the nozzle part 55b around the sorting / dispensing pipe 55 in order from the top. 56, a movable portion 57, and a second silicon ball 58.

  The first and second silicon balls 56 and 58 and the movable portion 57 are loosely inserted in the sorting / dispensing tube 55 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The nozzle portion 55 b is provided at the tip of the sorting / dispensing tube 55 and moves together with the sorting / dispensing tube 55. The nozzle portion 55b has a hole 55c communicating with the passage 55a. The hole 55c is connected to a suction / discharge device (not shown) via a sorting / dispensing tube 55. The nozzle body 54 is connected to a lifting mechanism (not shown) and a fluid cylinder constituting a ball compression mechanism.

  The nozzle main body 54 before the sorting step is in a state in which the sorting and dispensing pipe 55 protrudes downward, and the nozzle portion 55b and the fixing portion 59 are separated from each other. The first and second silicon balls 56 and 58 are It becomes a true spherical state (not shown). In this state, the entire nozzle body 54 is moved by the up-and-down moving mechanism, and is positioned on the upper part of the sorting and dispensing tip 52. Further, the entire nozzle body 54 is lowered and inserted into the cylindrical portion 52 a of the dispensing / dispensing tip 52.

  From this state, the dispensing pipe 55 is raised by the fluid cylinder in a state where the fixing portion 59 is fixed. Then, the nozzle part 55b rises and approaches the fixing part 59, and the interval between the nozzle part 55b and the fixing part 59 is narrowed. As a result, the silicon balls 56 and 58 and the movable portion 57 move upward, and the silicon balls 56 and 58 are compressed in the axial direction. This state is shown in FIG.

  The silicon balls 56 and 58 are compressed in the axial direction, elastically deformed in the diameter increasing direction, and are in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52a of the dispensing / dispensing tip 52. Therefore, the nozzle body 54 and the dispensing / dispensing tip 52 are connected in an airtight state.

  In this state, when the nozzle body 54 and the sorting / dispensing tip 52 are integrally moved by the up-and-down moving mechanism and the sorting / dispensing tip 52 is inserted into the test tube 25 and then sucked by the suction / discharge device, The dispensing / dispensing tip 52 becomes negative pressure via the dispensing / dispensing tube 55, and the serum in the test tube can be separated into the dispensing / dispensing tip 52.

  Further, when the nozzle body 54 and the dispensing / dispensing tip 52 are integrally raised by the lifting / lowering mechanism, the dispensing / dispensing tip 52 comes out of the test tube, and the nozzle body 54 containing the separated serum and the sorting are collected. The dispensing tip 52 can be positioned in another test tube or the like. When discharged by the suction / discharge device, the dispensing tip 52 becomes positive pressure via the dispensing tube 55, and the serum in the dispensing tube 52 can be dispensed into a test tube or the like. .

  The chip slope cleaning unit 60 has a function of supplying a chip slope 70 as shown in FIG. 6 and collecting and cleaning the used chip slope 70. The tip slope 70 is configured integrally with a cylindrical portion 71 having a diameter larger than that of the nozzle needle 53 and a diameter-expanding portion 72 continuous above the cylindrical portion 71. The tip slope 70 is made of resin, and the tip 73 (lower end) of the cylindrical portion 71 is sharply configured so as to be able to penetrate the plug body 26. The enlarged diameter portion 72 has a conical shape in which the opening of the cylindrical portion 71 is enlarged, and the upper portion has a large diameter and the lower portion has a small diameter. Here, the diameter of the nozzle needle 53 is, for example, 2 mm, and the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 71 is, for example, 3.6 mm. For this reason, the opening area can be kept small while allowing the atmosphere to be released. The sorting / dispensing tip 52 is made of resin.

  Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the sample processing method of the sample processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, as a carrying-in process, the test tube 25 held by the rack 11c of the rack erection unit 11a is transferred to the holder 24 waiting on the carrying unit 20 by the carrying-in device 11 shown in FIG. The transferred test tube 25 is held by the holder 24 along the conveyance path 20a and is conveyed to the downstream sorting / dispensing device 12 in a standing state.

  Then, various information such as identification information of the specimen 25a indicated by the barcode 27a, position information of the barcode 27a, and presence / absence of the label 27 is detected by the reading unit 32 on the downstream side (reading process). The acquired various information is recorded in the storage unit 15 and used for control by the control unit 17.

  Further, in the label peeling portion 33 on the downstream side, as shown in FIG. 4, when the test tube 25 is disposed at the processing position and stopped, the label peeling portion 33 moves downward while keeping the cutting blade 43 in contact with the label 27. A part of 27 is shaved, peeled off from the test tube 25, and removed (label removal process).

  The side portion of the test tube 25 after the label removal processing is in a state where the label 27 is scraped off at the peeling target portion 27b extending in the vertical direction, and the side portion of the internal transparent test tube 25 is exposed. After completion of the label removal process, the test tube 25 is held by the holder 24 along the transport path 20a and is sent to the downstream detection unit 34 and the sorting / dispensing unit 35 in a standing state.

  Next, in the sorting / dispensing unit 35 shown in FIG. 7, a predetermined amount of serum is collected from the test tube 25 with the sample by the sorting / dispensing tip 52, and dispensed into the sample cup sent separately. (Preparation / dispensing).

  During the sorting process, the imaging unit 45 of the detection unit 34 provided on the side detects the state of the test tube 25 or the sample 25a (detection process), and the sorting process is controlled according to the detection result. In the detection process, first, the side part of the test tube 25 is imaged to obtain image information of the specimen. Since the side of the test tube 25 sent to the imaging unit 45 is previously peeled off the label 27 at the upstream label peeling unit 33 and the side wall of the transparent test tube 25 is exposed, The image information of the internal specimen 25a can be acquired from the side through the side wall. The acquired image information is recorded in the storage unit 15 and sent to the data processing unit 16. The data processing unit 16 detects (determines) the state of the sample 25 a based on the image information acquired by the imaging unit 45. Specifically, based on the image information from the side of the test tube 25 acquired by the imaging unit 45, the data processing unit 16 uses the clot surface 25e, the silicon surface 25f, the serum surface 25g, and the nozzle needle 53 of the sample 25a. The position of is detected. The control unit 17 detects the position of the tip of the nozzle needle 53 by detecting the position of the nozzle needle 53 and the position of the liquid level, and controls the movement of the nozzle according to the detection result. To do. For example, by positioning so that the tip of the nozzle needle 53 stops above the silicon surface 25f, the nozzle needle 53 can be prevented from entering the silicon surface 25f, and the serum 25d can be collected without leaving any residue. .

  In the sorting process, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, the test tube 25 is transported along the transport path 20a. At this time, prior to the insertion of the nozzle needle 53, the tip slope 70 is lowered from above the plug body 26, so that the cylindrical portion 71 penetrates the plug body 26 as shown in FIG. The tip 73 of 71 is arranged to be inserted into the test tube 25. In this state, the inside and outside of the test tube 25 communicate with each other by the cavity 71a in the cylindrical portion 71, and the inside of the test tube 25 is released to atmospheric pressure.

  Next, the conveyance of the test tube 25 is stopped at a predetermined position directly below the nozzle needle 53. In this state, as shown in FIG. 7C, the lifting / lowering mechanism 51 lowers the sorting / dispensing tip 52, and the nozzle needle 53 is inserted from above the cylindrical portion 71. The nozzle needle 53 is inserted into the test tube 25 through the cavity 71 a of the cylindrical portion 71. In this state, the inside of the test tube 25 communicates with the atmosphere through the outer periphery of the nozzle needle 53 and the inside of the cavity 71a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7D, the tip position of the nozzle needle 53 is positioned at a predetermined depth. At this time, positioning is performed by the detection and control described above so that the tip of the nozzle needle 53 stops, for example, above the silicon surface 25f. In this state, suction from the nozzle needle 53 is performed by the suction / discharge mechanism, whereby the serum 25d is collected as the specimen 25a (sorting process).

  After separating the serum 25d, the lifting / lowering mechanism portion 51 raises the sorting / dispensing tip 52, positions the nozzle needle 53 in the sample cup sent separately, and discharges it by the suction / discharge mechanism, Dispense the sample into the sample cup (dispensing process). The sample cup is unloaded from the unloading device 13 (unloading process) and is loaded into the analyzer 14 on the downstream side. Then, an analysis process for examining various reactions is performed in the analyzer 14.

  The chip slope 70 is collected, cleaned in the chip slope cleaning unit 60, and reused.

  According to the sample processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. That is, the sample processing can be performed in a closed state by the nozzle needle 53 as a penetration insertion portion that can be inserted into the test tube 25 through the plug body 26. Therefore, since it is not necessary to open the cap in advance, it is possible to perform the process with high efficiency, to prevent the specimen from being scattered and evaporated, and to prevent foreign matters from being mixed.

  Further, since the sorting process can be performed while detecting the state in the test tube 25 by the detection unit 34, the serum 25d can be sorted without remaining, and the nozzle needle 53 does not enter the silicon surface 25f. Therefore, the processing accuracy is improved. Therefore, even when the liquid level of the specimen 25a differs depending on the individual test tube 25, it is possible to perform processing with high accuracy. Further, by providing the label peeling unit 33 on the upstream side of the detection unit 34, even if the label 27 is attached to the side portion of the test tube 25, the label 27 is peeled off and removed in advance. Thus, the image information of the specimen can be acquired with certainty. Therefore, by detecting the position of the tip of the nozzle needle 53 from the side of the test tube with the label 27 peeled off, only the serum 25d can be reliably separated. For this reason, high detection accuracy can be maintained.

  Furthermore, by inserting the tip slope 70 in advance and communicating the inside of the test tube 25 to the atmosphere, the inside of the test tube 25 is prevented from being evacuated by the sorting operation, and the sorting operation can be performed easily and accurately. It becomes possible. In addition, since the chip slope having the elongated cylindrical portion 71 and the enlarged diameter portion 72 is used, the area that is opened when communicating with the atmosphere can be kept small, so that the function of preventing scattering and evaporation is maintained. be able to. Furthermore, by manufacturing both the sorting / dispensing tip 52 and the tip slope 70 with a metal material, it can be reused after cleaning, and contamination can be prevented and implemented at low cost.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. For example, the sorting process is exemplified as the processing target, but the processing content is not limited to this, and can be applied to other processes. Further, the processing target is not limited to those illustrated in the above embodiment, and for example, processing may be performed on a sample container. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample processing apparatus, 11 ... Carry-in apparatus, 12 ... Sorting / dispensing apparatus, 13 ... Unloading apparatus, 14 ... Analyzing apparatus, 15 ... Memory | storage part, 16 ... Data processing part, 17 ... Control part, 20a ... Transport route 20 ... conveying unit, 24 ... holder, 25 ... test tube (sample container), 25a ... sample, 25b ... clot, 25c ... silicon (separating agent), 25d ... serum, 25e ... clot surface, 25f ... silicon surface 25g ... Serum surface, 26 ... Plug, 27 ... Label, 27a ... Bar code, 27b ... Peeling target part, 31 ... Main body, 32 ... Reading part, 33 ... Label peeling part (label removal unit), 34 ... Detection Part (detection unit), 35 ... sorting / dispensing part (penetration processing unit), 41 ... base part, 42 ... arm part, 43 ... shaving blade, 45 ... imaging part, 51 ... lifting mechanism part, 52 ... sorting・ Dispensing tip, 53 ... Nozzle needle (through insertion part) , 60 ... tip slope supply unit, 70 ... chip slope 71 ... cylindrical portion, 71a ... cavity 72 ... enlarged diameter portion, 73 ... tip.

Claims (5)

At least a part of which can contain a specimen is attached to a specimen container configured transparently, and has a penetration insertion part configured to be able to penetrate a plug body made of a material containing rubber or a synthetic resin material, A penetrating unit for processing the sample container or the sample;
A detection unit for detecting the state of the sample or the sample container during the processing;
A label removal unit for removing at least a part of the label attached to the side of the specimen container before the detection;
The penetrating insertion unit includes a nozzle needle having a sharp tip, and performs a sample separation or dispensing process in a state where the tip of the nozzle needle penetrates the stopper and is inserted into the sample container. Take-up and dispensing unit,
A cylindrical part having a hollow having a diameter larger than that of the nozzle needle and penetrating the plug, and a chip slope made of a metal material having a diameter-enlarged part that is continuous with the cylindrical part and expands in diameter,
Prior to the sample sorting process, the tip slope penetrates the stopper and is inserted into the sample container, and the sample container is communicated by the cavity of the tip slope. A sample processing apparatus characterized in that processing is performed.   The sample processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the penetrating insertion unit further includes a chip slope cleaning unit that cleans the chip slope after the sample is dispensed and dispensed.   The detection unit acquires image information of the sample or the sample container, and based on the image information, at least a serum surface, a silicon surface, a blood clot surface, and the penetrating insertion portion as a sample accommodated in the sample container The sample processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein any position is detected. A transport unit that transports the sample container along a predetermined transport path while holding the stopper body in an upright state;
Along the transport path, the penetrating processing unit and the detection unit are arranged,
The sample processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label removal unit is arranged on the upstream side of the transport path from the penetration processing unit. Further comprising a cutter that forms an opening in the plug;
2. The specimen processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening is formed in the stopper by the cutter before the specimen sorting process.

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